The Devil's Own by Garry Douglas Kilworth

Author:Garry Douglas Kilworth
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
ISBN: 9781780332550
Publisher: Robinson
Published: 2011-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

12

The shock of discovering that Peterson was a woman had robbed Crossman of coherent thought for a while. It was not that it was unique to find a woman masquerading as a man in the army, but it was not overly common. Wives sometimes cut their hair and joined to be with husbands. Masculine women wanted to do what males did. Others had more complex reasons for wanting to be in uniform and fighting alongside the men.

However, Crossman had not yet come across one of these ‘military maids’ as they were called, and he had not been ready to find that Peterson, the best shot in his little band, was one of them. He had stumbled away from her, leaving her to dress herself, wondering what he should do about it.

In the end he decided her worth as a sharpshooter far outweighed any qualms he might have about keeping her secret. If she was discovered by someone else in authority, then he would deny any knowledge of her gender. It was as simple as that.

He had an understanding, too, that many of these military maids needed the collusion of some of the men to get away with their deception. In which case, he would be only one among many, and need not let his conscience bother him too much. Only if she were killed would he find himself questioning his own judgement, and even here he had the idea that she would rather die than be reported and unmasked.

Crossman decided he would say nothing at all to the authorities, nor would he mention it again to Peterson, unless the occasion arose when it was unavoidable.

Crossman made a decision to leave his brother and Wynter at the house under Lisette’s care. James Kirk was too sick to be moved. Wynter’s wound was healing well and it would be foolish to take him over rough country and risk opening it again. One thing was certain, there was no infection in the wound. Crossman was sure that Lisette’s nursing had been responsible for that.

‘You stay here until we fetch you, Wynter. And behave yourself, you understand?’

‘Yes, Sergeant.’

‘Keep your eye on Lieutenant Kirk.’

Wynter nodded.

Crossman then went to the room where his brother was lying, still in the throes of fever. Lisette was there, ministering to him. She looked up at Crossman and smiled when he entered the room. Crossman gave her a little smile in return, but neither of them said anything.

The Ranger sergeant stared down at his brother’s handsome features. James’s colour was a little better this morning and Lisette was convinced he was over the worst of his illness, despite a hot brow.

Suddenly, as Crossman was leaning over him, James’s eyes opened. The sick man stared into Crossman’s features. A frown grew on his brow. Then he reached up and clutched the turned-down collar of Crossman’s coatee.

‘Alex?’ he whispered hoarsely. ‘Is this you?’

Startled for a moment and cursing himself for entering the room, Crossman peeled away the fingers.

‘Sergeant Crossman, sir. I don’t know any Alex.

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